With out the question there the answer never comes.

County taxes: Third from bottom but trying to be lastBy: Steve Trubilla​Most people do not have an endless supply of money. They cannot just print more when they want it, or force others to give it to them. I say most people because there are those that do print their own money, and force others to give them what they have earned.

On one side of things it is called organized crime; on another it is called the government.It is budget time again in Franklin County. Everything costs something, and someone has to pay for it.

Having written substantial "zero based" budgets myself, I understand the challenge of the task, and credit those that meet it. It is hard work.

Bureaucratic budgets are very much different from one's personal plan. I say plan because the words budget and plan are one in the same.

Responsible people plan/budget their finances to meet expenses and financial goals. If there is more month at the end of the money, something wanted loses priority to something needed. You may want to buy your little girl a special toy. You need gas to get to work to feed the family.

The reality of it can be painful. To avoid future pain the plan is adjusted.

Often, bureaucratic budgets are more of a popularity contest than they are a financial plan. There are great similarities. The contest between wants and needs plays out, just in a different way.

Most politicians want to get re-elected, and need people to vote for them. That is really their plan and true priority; they promise everyone "special toys." Then predictably in off-election years they raise taxes to pay for what is needed.

I almost said all politicians, but that would not have been fair. There are those few that are true public servants, but too few. Can you even name one?

Good news is sounded in the upcoming year's budget draft, "no tax increase." Yes a "special toy" if you will, for the "someone" that has to pay for things.

This year you will be allowed to keep a little more of what you earned. Pick your politician; given even the hint of opportunity, they will tell you how they fought off the increase. "Please be sure to remember this at election time."

Chances are you would leave the conversation feeling obligated to say, thank you.

This reminds me of a story where a captain was given a Bronze Star for leading a company of Marines out of a mine field. If you did not know the details of the story, the man's valor and resourcefulness may have called you to think why not a higher award. For on that day, his action did, without question, save the Marines' lives.

The rest of the story is the captain also led the company into the mine field.

According to a document on file by the North Carolina Department of Revenue for fiscal year 2016 -2017, Franklin County, of one hundred counties, has the third highest property tax rate.

This begs the question of: Why? Could it have something to do with the millions of dollars lost to settle lawsuits, millions spent and more money about to be for radios that do not work?

Maybe the millions spent on the courthouse and detention center simply because there was no plan for preventive maintenance have something to do with it.

Even after all the contract changes, and cost overruns there are still problems.Do you think paying fines for sewer spills has something to do with it?

I could be wrong, but it kind of looks like we here in Franklin County are trying to be #1 when it comes to property tax rates.

There may not be a property tax increase this year, but I would hold off on giving out any medals or saying thank you, because it is coming.

The sewer pumping station issue in Youngsville is potentially going to cost millions. This has been known, and known for years. You may remember on this I said, three-day-old fish does not smell better on the fourth day. Well, it is stinking now!

When it comes to raising taxes, there are many ways to paint that wagon. Property re-valuation is one of them. Here it comes again. My bet is the increased revenue is already being spent.

What do you think the chances are of new business locating in Franklin County when that business has 97 other choices for lower property tax rates?

Oh, and have you heard, the county is hiring more people, and boosting spending.I am so excited, aren't you?

Events touch people different ways. The news is filled with tragedy; most of it is distant from our lives.​Evil people use sarin gas to kill women, men, and children, in a far off place called Syria.How did learning of this affect you? Even babies were murdered by this odorless, colorless, weaponized nerve gas agent.

It has all faded from the headlines now, overtaken by other horrible events. Has it also faded from your memory?

For more than 50 years, war, called an armed conflict, has raged in Colombia. The Revolutionary Armed Forced of Colombia (FARC), and Colombian Government battle for power and control of the country. I would make a wager most people in America are oblivious to this.

Tens of thousands of people have vanished, just disappeared. More than a staggering 7.6 million have registered as victims. This over-50-year war has had a direct impact on our national security, costing the American taxpayer billions. This would make a great feature story.

Then there is the horror of over 200 Nigerian Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped in 2014 by Islamic Boko Haram. What became of them? Did you know more than 2,000 young girls have been kidnapped, raped or murdered? The media, and thus the world, takes little notice of it.

I have enough of my own problems, was a response I heard while engaged, talking about these, and other violent horrific events. Simply not my problem; I could care less was the person's sincere position. A callous response, yes, but it truly was an honest one.

The truth is, for the most part, others simply do not care about the suffering of others.To find this lack of empathy, compassion, or even humanity, you do not have to look to world events in places like Syria, Columbia, or Nigeria. You can look just past the front door on your home.

Many can look even closer in their own lives.

Maybe you have children in school that are bullied every day. It is being done openly, teachers know it, the bus driver knows it, and even the police have been notified. Those that can stop it pay lip service. It continues because they really do not care.

An elderly man dies. His wife of 50 years is now left alone. She is seen sitting on her porch, or walking by herself. Everyone sees, but no one notices.

When cancer comes to your family, then you will see how close the, "It's simply not my problem" is to you. Many now reading this that have had cancer's visit, can tell you of "friends" they never again see.

How powerful those sincerely spoken words of, "It's simply not my problem," have penetrated my thinking. They are synonymous with the words, "I do not care about how others feel."

It is one thing to hear these words, and another to see people act on them, narcissist not capable of seeing or feeling anything outside themselves. It is a personality disorder that has become the norm.

Honesty is among the traits I value, but not above kindness. What is the purpose of telling another their problems do not matter, and you do not care about how they feel?

So many are busy in their lives, collecting material things, promotions, college degrees, plaques to hang on the wall, or building fortunes. Much of this is done to impress people that could really care less.

It is but a scene in life. The next is realizing none of it really means anything.

What really counts is kindness. Think about this, is it not the kindness of others you most remember and treasure?

Be remembered, be kind to someone today that may most need it, and least expect it.

This article appeared in the Franklin Times newspaper on May 4, 2017. The Franklin Times is published in Louisburg NC.

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